Meet Our Team
We’re always on the watch for promising opportunities and for the resources and partners necessary to move them forward. All three are fundamental to the work we do. There’s a fourth element that is at least as important to our success: the LegacyWorks team members who facilitate our collaborative projects and lead our regional initiatives. LegacyWorks Group is blessed with a remarkably committed, capable and generative board and staff along with advisory board members across our regions. Please meet our board and staff in the brief bios below.
Interested in joining our team and doing this kind of work? LegacyWorks Group is growing! Each of our regional initiatives has more and more good work to do, and we’re increasingly undertaking an array of high impact projects outside of our three regions. We’re always looking for accomplished, open-hearted facilitators and change makers to join our team for a variety of projects and engagements. If our stories, team member descriptions and the job descriptions spark your fire, please check out current opportunities here and reach out to begin a conversation.
Board of Directors
Board Chair
Amy Verbeten is originally from Walla Walla, Washington where she learned important lessons about collaborative conservation and western water issues…
Executive Director
Carl is the founder and Executive Director of LegacyWorks Group. Carl has led innovative community impact initiatives for the past 17 years.
Board Member
David is a regenerative impact entrepreneur and investor with a background in sales and marketing…
Board Secretary
Michael Sutton is an internationally respected leader in environmental conservation. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Goldman Environmental Foundation…
Board Member
Sandra Guido Sánchez is a biologist with a Master's Degree in Oceanology. Since 1990, she has been actively involved in the environmental sector.
Board Treasurer
As Founder and CEO of Impact Finance Center (IFC), Stephanie is the creative force behind several social enterprises…
Board Member
Wendy Millet is director of the TomKat Ranch a cattle ranch in Pescadero, CA with a mission to raise healthy food on working lands...
LegacyWorks Group Team
Communications Manager
Aaron Kershaw is a marketing and communications professional with a passion for nature conservation. He has a strong background in developing effective marketing and communications strategies for environmental organizations.
East Cape Futures Initiative Coordinator
Alina studied Environmental Engineering in Guadalajara and received her Masters in Environmental Studies …
Project Associate
Allie has a Bachelors of the Arts in Marine Science from Boston University and a Master of Environmental Data Science from the Bren School of Environmental …
Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape Coordinator
Collaborative land stewardship and reliable relationships are a cornerstone of Amber’s personal and professional life, demonstrated in her facilitation of the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape Partnership.
Interim Sentinel Landscapes Support Advisor
Angela has been actively engaged in Santa Barbara’s nonprofit sector since graduating college in 2014. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management with a minor in Nonprofit Administration…
Co-Director, Central Coast Region
Bill joined LegacyWorks Group in 2022 as is Co-Director of the Central Coast region, based in the Santa Barbara office.
Project Manager
Fueled by a passion for protecting natural systems and the local communities that depend upon them, Cailan joined LegacyWorks Group in 2023 to support an innovative fisheries management project.
Executive Director
Carl is the founder and Executive Director of LegacyWorks Group. Carl has led innovative community impact initiatives for the past 17 years.
Eastern North Carolina Resilience & Climate Adaptation Coordinator
Chris serves as the Resilience/Climate Adaptation Coordinator for the Eastern North Carolina Sentinel Landscape (ENCSL) Partnership...
Project Director and Facilitator
Dr. Carrie Kappel is a skilled facilitator and research scientist with nearly twenty years of experience participating in, leading, and facilitating collaborative teams…
Project Director and Geographic Information Systems
Court has over 15 years experience working as a professional Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialist…
Deputy Director, Teton Region
Elle is an educator, artist, and scientist. A native Coloradan, Elle quickly learned to love the natural world…
Resilience Specialist, Avon Park AFR Sentinel Landscape
Hannah, a recent graduate from Stetson University, holds a B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Geospatial Analysis, complemented by a minor in Public Health.
Co-Director, Central Coast Region
Ellen has over 25 years of non-profit experience leading, developing, and implementing projects and initiatives for community benefit.
General Counsel
James (Jake) B. Hodge, Esquire, has practiced law for 30+ years and specializes in complex real estate, business, financial, environmental and conservation transactions.
Financial Analyst
Interested in the growing interface between conservation and finance, James developed knowledge bases in both realms before joining the team as a financial analyst in 2023.
Baja CA Sur Regional Deputy Director
James Honey has nearly 20 years’ experience in coordination of complex environmental and economic solutions…
Director of Operations and Conservation Planner
Jessica brings a wide array of experience to her role from both the administrative management…
Resilience Specialist, Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape
Joy grew up in the Florida Panhandle where she spent her days running through the woods, swimming in cold tannic creeks and fishing in bays with her family. It was her family that developed and inspired her love of the outdoors.
Project Manager
Julie has extensive experience engaging with communities and organizations to advance equity for marginalized communities in conservation efforts.
Project Associate
Keilana is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Anthropology and Geography…
East Yellowstone Regional Director
Laura made northwest Wyoming her home in the mid-seventies, and in the last forty years has worked as a sheepherder, cowboy, grazing manager for the Bighorn National Forest …
Associate Researcher
Liliana Paredes Lozano is a Marine Biologist with a master's in Marine and Coastal Sciences, specializing in Sustainable Management.
Senior Grants Administrator
Luisa is an outcome-focused and meticulous professional with 18 years of specialized experience in managing sponsored awards, providing expert research finance and accounting support to universities, academic medical centers, and non-profits.
Baja CA Sur Regional Senior Director
Martin has nearly 35 years experience in natural resources management and sustainable development…
Communications Designer
Megan has over 25 years experience in communications and design. Before LegacyWorks she led the…
Project Director
Melissa joined LegacyWorks in 2023 as Project Director for the Santa Barbara Region. Melissa brings 15 years of experience working in service to the Santa Barbara County community…
Teton Regional Director and Conservation Loan Collaborative Chief Operating Officer
Driven by place, people, and hope, Michelle brings extensive experience in community-led change, non-profit management, social entrepreneurship …
Communities & Communications Program Associate
Nash has a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Mundial at La Paz, BCS, Mexico.
Program Manager
Ole Amundsen uses his skills in finance, economic development and strategic conservation planning to help organizations and communities use their natural assets as part of their economic sustainability.
Technical & Natural Resources Director
Pablo is a Marine Biologist with a Master's Degree in Marine and Coastal Sciences from the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur (UABCS)…
Futuro Cabo del Este Strategy Fellow
Paola holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington D.C., concentrating in ESG and Latin America.
Project Manager
Raymond Segovia Jr. joined Legacy Works in October 2023, bringing with him over two decades of experience in the construction and restoration industry.
Conservation Loan Collaborative Chief Program Officer
Reggie has extensive conservation leadership experience and a remarkable network of trust based relationships with conservation leaders across the country.
Conservation Loan Collaborative Advancement Manager
Robert has over 20 years experience working with nonprofits, government agencies, libraries, and small businesses.
Project Director
Will is serving as a Project Director for LegacyWorks Group with a focus on enterprise planning efforts for Sentinel Landscapes, the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative, and the Zion National Park Regional Recreation Initiative.
In Memoriam
Senior Fellow and Key Founding Partner
Sandy was a key partner in the formation of LegacyWorks Group and our early work in the Tetons…